JPH06200928A - Plain bearing - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To allow a slide bearing to three-dimensionally movably hold a pipe so as to adapt the slide bearing to the lateral and pitch variations of the pipe by placing a number of slide pads within an annular member via compression members, and thus forming a slide envelope adapted to the pipe. CONSTITUTION: This slide bearing 1 has a principal part comprised of an annular member 2, slide pads 3, and compression members 4. The annular member 2 is formed with locating lugs 5 for securing the slide bearing 1 in a housing and a plurality of grooved parts 6 for positioning the compression members 4. The slide pads 3 within the annular member 2 define a slide envelope 8 adapted to a pipe. The slide bearing thus holds the pipe in a manner allowing free axial, radial and annular displacement so that the slide bearing is adaptable to the lateral and pitch variations of the pipe.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

FIELD OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to plain bearings, and more particularly, but not exclusively, to plain bearings for use in aircraft tube structures.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art It is known that a pipe structure expands and contracts due to changes in pressure, temperature, load and the like. Thus, it will be appreciated that in aircraft, the tube length changes considerably during flight as ambient temperature changes. If the change in the length of the pipe is not corrected, the pipe may be bent and a reaction force may be generated to damage the mounting portion or the wall plate.

[0003]

Generally, such tube expansion problems are solved by cooperating with tube kinking and bending to compensate for expansion. However, in some parts of the aircraft it is difficult to accommodate twisting and bending due to space constraints. Slide bearings are particularly effective in such places.

In general, conventional plain bearings have an annular member through which the tube passes with a packing material such as wire wool which is provided to locate the tube within the annular member. At the same time, however, such a combined structure is difficult to mount and has poor reliability.

An object of the present invention is to provide a plain bearing which substantially solves the above problems.

[0006]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In accordance with the present invention, a plain bearing for securing within a housing comprises a plurality of replaceable pad members secured within an annular member to form a slide cover. Each of the replaceable annular members comprises a matingly disposed annular member secured to the compression member such that a slide cover holds the tube so that the tube can move axially or radially or annularly. Has a sliding pad.

[0007] Preferably, there are eight pad members provided at equal intervals in the annular member.

The slide pad can be made of graphite, nylon, aluminum, bronze or Teflon. Further, the slide pad can be flat or elongated in shape.

The annular member can be made of epoxy resin, aluminum or titanium.

The compression member can be a mechanical spring, a block of elastic plastic or rubber material, or a fluid spring.

The annular member can be constructed in several sections to facilitate assembly and installation.

The pad member can be made adjustable so that the position of the slide pad in the bearing can be adjusted.

Embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail below by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0014]

1 and 3 of the drawings, a plain bearing 1 of the present invention mainly comprises an annular member 2, a slide pad 3 and a compression member 4. The annular member 2 has a positioning protrusion 5 which can position and fix the slide bearing 1 in a housing (not shown). However,
It will be clear that the plain bearing 1 and the housing can be made integrally with each other or can be fixed together.

The annular member 2 has groove portions 6 at equal intervals in its periphery so that the compression member 4 can be positioned and easily held. In general, the compression member 4 is a compression spring, but it will be appreciated that solid or any suitable compressible foamed plastic or rubber material can be used. The compression member 4 is generally secured by a nipple member 7 having a shoulder for engaging or securing the compression member 4 to the annular member 2. The slide pad 3 is provided at the end of the compression member 4 and can be retained on the slide pad 3 by the pinch effect of the compression member 4 or some other type of adhesive or mechanical member.

The slide pad 3 within the annular member 2 is a slide cover 8 shown in phantom to fit a tube not shown.
Partition. The actual diameter of the slide shroud 8 is determined by the diameter of the tube considered to fit. Furthermore, if the nipple member 7 extends to the slide pad 3 and is screwed or ratcheted, it will be apparent that the position and compression range of the slide pad 3 in the plain bearing 1 can be adjusted. Ah Ideally,
Each slide pad 3 and compression member 4 should be slightly compressed when the tube is placed in the plain bearing. A slightly compressed compression member would better hold and position the tube.

The slide pad 3 allows the tube to slide under load and the compression member 4 allows for some lateral movement. The material from which the slide pad 3 is made depends on the situation in which the plain bearing 1 is activated and the material of the tube. Suitable materials include graphite, Teflon, ceramic materials, aluminum / bronze, nylon and the like. The number of slide pads 3 to form a suitable plain bearing 1 is based on the maximum possible reaction force required for the tube. Although eight slide pads 3 provided at equal intervals are effective as shown in FIG. 1, four slide pads 3 can be used with a small reaction force.

The slide pad 3 can be formed or grooved to facilitate sliding of the tube. Therefore, the slide pad 3 can be flattened or elongated in shape along the axis of the tube held in the plain bearing 1 and have a recessed surface to increase the contact between each slide pad 3 and the tube. You can have it.

As indicated above, the plain bearing of the present invention may be integral with the housing or may be an annular fitting member. It will be appreciated that the complete embodiment may have an integral annular member. At the same time, however, such a monolithic annular member is inconvenient for an annular fitting member. Therefore, it is common to make several divided sections for the annular member of the plain bearing. These divided members can be ordinary tubes surrounded by plain bearings 1.

Referring to FIG. 2, the slide bearing 1 in the form of an annular member consists of two equally divided members 21, 23 each provided with a projection 22 and a slot 24. Member 2
Annular members 21, 2 to secure 1, 23 together
A strap or string can be provided around 3, and also a member 21, so as to form an annular plain bearing.
Other securing members can be used to secure 23 together. Furthermore, members 21 and 23 could alternatively be mounted within the housing halves, respectively, or to an annular member formed when the housing was constructed. The positioning projection 5 of the annular plain bearing 1 can be used as a fastening point to form the plain bearing 1 integral with the housing.

It will be appreciated that the annular member makes up a large proportion of the weight of the plain bearing 1. Therefore, the annular member, that is, the slide bearing, can be made of thermosetting epoxy resin, aluminum, titanium, etc. because the weight must be as light as possible for use in aircraft.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic sectional view of a plain bearing of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a side view of a plain bearing.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged view of a portion A of the plain bearing.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Sliding bearing 2 Annular member 3 Slide pad 4 Compressing member 5 Positioning projection 6 Groove 7 Nipple member 8 Slide cover 21 Divided member 22 Projection 23 Divided member 24 Groove hole

Claims (8)

[Claims] 1. A replaceable annular member comprising a tubular member arranged to fit a plurality of replaceable pad members secured within the annular member to form a slide cover. A slide bearing for fixing in a housing, characterized in that the slide cover has a slide pad fixed to the compression member so as to be able to move axially or radially or annularly so as to hold the tube. 2. The plain bearing according to claim 1, wherein eight pad members are provided at intervals on the annular member so as to elastically fix the pipe in use. 3. The sliding bearing according to claim 1, wherein the slide pad is made of graphite, nylon, aluminum, bronze or Teflon. 4. A plain bearing according to claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein the slide pad is flat or elongated to facilitate positioning of the tube during use. 5. The plain bearing according to claim 1, wherein the annular member is made of epoxy resin, aluminum or titanium. 6. The plain bearing according to claim 1, wherein the compression member is a mechanical spring, a block of elastic plastic or rubber material, or a fluid spring. 7. A plain bearing as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the annular member is formed in several sections to facilitate assembly and installation. 8. The plain bearing according to claim 1, wherein the pad member is adjustable so that the position of the slide pad in the bearing can be adjusted.